Paloma principal hands over keys to school

MENIFEE -- The principal at Paloma Valley High School was forced
to relinquish his keys to the school Thursday, several weeks after
being put on administrative leave following allegations that grades
of athletes were illegally changed, a Perris Union High School
District official said Friday.

Carl Phillips -- Paloma's principal since it opened in 1995 --
gave his keys to a school district employee at his home in Hemet,
Assistant Superintendent Barry Kayrell said. The school district
reserves the right to take back school property, such as keys, when
an employee is put on leave, Kayrell added.

Phillips and another Paloma employee, guidance technician
Roberta Greer, were placed on paid administrative leave in
November, several weeks before the district announced it had
launched a probe into the allegations.

Information gleaned from that investigation is expected to be
released next week. Kayrell would not comment on the results of the
investigation Friday.

Phillips said by phone Friday afternoon that district officials
have not told him anything about the probe's results and declined
further comment.

"I'm still on paid administrative leave," he said. "Nothing's
been told to me."

Kayrell said an interim principal for Paloma, Paul Ward, has
been hired. Ward is a retired principal from the Chaffey Joint
Union High School District, and will start work Tuesday.

The district began looking into allegations that school
officials had changed athletes' grades after a parent called to
complain in early November, Kayrell said. The official
investigation began several weeks later.

A person was hired to assist school officials in the
investigation, although Kayrell declined to name who the person is.
The finished report has been handed to the school district's
attorney, Brad Neufeld, of Best, Best and Krieger, who will review
the results before the school board can take action on the matter,
he said.

The results of the investigation -- including how many students
allegedly had their grades changed and what athletic teams may be
involved -- are expected to be revealed at the board's regular
meeting Wednesday. The public portion of the board meeting starts
at 5 p.m. at the district's office at 155 E. Fourth St. in
Perris.

District Athletic Director Marci Martinez previously said the
district took the initiative and reported the allegations to the
CIF-Southern Section, which governs student athlete eligibility at
Paloma. Martinez was not available for comment Friday.

CIF spokesman Thom Simmons has not commented on specific
penalties Paloma could face if the results of the investigation
shows grades were changed illegally.